The Ishola Balogun-Fulani led faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kwara State has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and national leaders of the party to recognise its governorship candidate, Hon. Kayode Abdulwahab, as the party’s flag bearer for the 2019 election.
Addressing journalists in Ilorin, the state capital, on Tuesday, the party chairman, Hon. Ishola Balogun-Fulani, also demanded that the party's leadership hands over the flags to other candidates produced by his faction.
The APC faction, which was recently recognised by the court, said they expect "President Buhari as a man of integrity who has demonstrated respect for rule of law severally to hearken our call because our positions had been recognized by a court of competent jurisdiction."
The APC faction added that it was on record that a court of competent jurisdiction had on September 19, 2018 delivered judgement on the controversy that surrounded the status of APC leadership in the state.
"In that judgement, which is yet to be set aside by a higher court, the court upheld our position to the effect that the purported dissolution of our executive committee was illegal, and that the only state executive of APC in the eyes of the law is that one led by my humble self, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani.
"Following from that judgement is also the fact that the only recognized candidates of our party during this coming election are those who came through our executives. In this regard, the gubernatorial candidate of our party is Alhaji Abdulwahab Kayode and we expect and hereby do humbly ask President Buhari, a man of integrity who has demonstrated respect for the rule of law severally, to abide by this judicial position.
"Therefore, we expect that as the president hands over the party's flag to candidates tomorrow, they should be to those who have legal ground to represent APC in the election, starting with Hon. Abdulwahab Kayode and down the line.
"To do otherwise will not portray our dear party in good light before the court, which will still look the natter and the general public who will vote during the elections. The latest decision of the court on the case of Kashamu vs Adebutu and leaders of the PDP is a good example to guide our party in the present circumstance,” he said.
Balogun-Fulani added that, "The APC had enough achievements to campaign in Kwara State and we have daily amplified this and the reception we keep receiving daily assures us that we’re coasting home to victory.
"And it is this assured victory that makes us to once again ask Mr president to do the needful in the eye of the law, in the eye of morality and in the interest of our great party tomorrow (Wednesday)."